ESSENCE
The steps of essence can be seen as a map of our life, both physically and spiritual. They relate well to the stages of life that the Word of God outlines for us in I John, CHILDREN, YOUNG MEN, and FATHERS. As children, the way we learn is by doing. As YOUNG MEN and WARRIORS, we learn to love the Truth. As FATHERS, we KNOW the Son of God. The question then becomes, where am I in this journey?
For a change of pace, let's review the essence of what the Lord revealed to me over the years. It's a very simple outline given to me by the Holy Spirit. Whenever I was threatened by expectations I would simply focus on this essence.
I have given this essence different titles over the years. The essence of success, the essence of sufficiency, the essence of survival, or responsibility, or duty. I finally settled on the simple phrase essence. I have found that essence encompasses the whole of what I need to be and do. I have further found that in each of the areas of essence, there is a focus area that encompasses the majority of the work. If I focus on these areas, the other areas become much area. All of this is built on a single foundation. I use these essences and areas of focus to clarify what I need to be doing every day, and every moment. The three essences are KNOWING, LEARNING, AND DOING. These three essences are built on a foundation of AWARENESS. Of course, the essence of responsibility can not be divorce or separated from God. Therefore the foundation of awareness that all or our life is to be built on is awareness of God, or the old fashioned phrase of fear of the Lord. The stronger the foundation, the more secure is the rest of what we do and are.
The first essence is DOING. There are three steps in doing, and really only three. They are GETTING READY, ESTABLISHING MOMENTUM, and FINISHING. The Spirit has revealed to me that the focus should be on GETTING READY. If I make sufficient preparation, the rest of the job often takes care of itself.
The second essence is LEARNING. This essence is more important than doing. Hence Mary was commended for sitting at the feat of Jesus, while her sister Martha was toiling away in service. This involves three actions, and a focus that ties together the bundle. The three steps are OBSERVING, COMPARING, and REVELATION.
The focus that ties the bundle together is DEFINING. God brings adventure and beauty into our lives, which gives us plenty of opportunity to observe and compare, and when we take the time to listen to the Holy Spirit, He will reveal to us the connection that we often call revelation. Learning becomes infinitely more powerful when we define what we have learned in a Heart Journal.
This is what God was asking Adam to do when He gave Adam the job of naming the animals. This is what the disciples did as they followed Jesus.
The final essence is KNOWING. It is the pinnacle of what we are and do. To be ever learning and never knowing is where our world is today. The picture God gave to us of knowing is marriage. This is the difference between the disciple and the apostles. The disciples learned about Jesus. The Apostles KNEW Him!
I am convinced that the Spirit revealed to me this outline to help me survive the dark depression that gripped me for at least 50 years. When my mind was clouded, I would use the focuses to get me though the next hour. GET READY TO GO, WRITE DOWN WHAT GOD HAS SHOWN ME, and, and most importantly, KNOW GOD. If you would know who you are, then you must know who God is, and if you would know who God is, LOOK TO THE CROSS!
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